During the warmer seasons, we are busy with the day-to-day activities of growing our gardens: mulching, weeding, planting, and pruning. In winter, we have time to clear our minds, breathe, look around, and gather ideas. It is a perfect time to consider how we want our gardens to look in the spring, summer, and fall without distraction. We have time to look through magazines, visit other gardens, or peruse Houzz.com for new ideas and innovations. Take some photographs, do some sketching, or simply consider ideas with a fresh and relaxed mind.

Winter is also a great time to see the garden for what it is. Without leaves and flowers, the skeleton, or the very structure of the garden, is revealed. One can see how the shadows move throughout the day, how the lines of sight are, and where there is room for improvement. Take a stroll through your garden at different times of the day and from different directions to see the garden in a new light. Then, consider what additions and changes you would like to make.

Lastly, consider some of the issues you may discover by spending time in your garden. Are there unsightly things that can be screened with evergreens? Is there a drainage problem that must be solved? Is there an evergreen tree blocking the sun that could be warming your house? Now is a wonderful time to investigate and solve these issues.

A seasoned gardener can probably accomplish all of this with some effort. For best results that last, it may be time to bring in a professional landscaper. Landscape design, plantings, and construction can be costly. If not done correctly, it can be even more costly to fix.

Time spent now considering improvements and solving weaknesses will pay big dividends come springtime. With ideas in hand and problems corrected, the only thing left to do in the spring is to enjoy your garden at its finest. Stop by Berend Bros. in Wichita Falls, Bowie,and Windthorst TX, we are your local Stihl Dealer.